Westside Digest

Pacific Palisades

No Oil Inc., an organization battling plans plans to drill for oil in Pacific Palisades, raised $11,500 at a benefit dinner at the Palisades Oak Room Sunday night, according to treasurer Barbara Kohn. The group's goal for the evening had been to sell 100 dinners at $100 each for a total of $10,000.

"We had lots of contributions over and above the $100," Kohn said. "It was absolutely spectacular." The owners of Mort's Palisades Deli donated the space and the food, Kohn said.

No Oil has filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles, alleging that its approval of Occidental Petroleum's drilling proposal was based on an inadequate study of the resulting environmental impact. The group's officers estimate that legal costs could rise as high as $250,000.

The organization's annual meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. May 8 at American Legion Post 283 in Pacific Palisades, Kohn said.